Midori Spring Ceremonial (GOLD) Matcha Green Tea Review

I love green tea.  In fact, several years ago, Happy Husband's Doctor told him to switch to green tea to help relieve his IBS.  So, cold or hot, for Mike's it green tea or nothing! That's usually my choice as well.

When asked to try Midori Spring Ceremonial (GOLD) Matcha Green Tea, I was very pleased to accept! Japanese green tea is simply amazing. It's has a bright, rich, vibrant flavour but not at all over-powering.  The green tea powder is also potent and a little goes a long way. So pay close attention to the brewing directions!

One teaspoon doesn't sound like a lot, but it's all that you need! Sadly, I didn't have a bamboo whisk, but a small metal whisk or fork will do in a pinch.

Isn't that colour just lovely? It smells so inviting, too! I believe that you will love this delightful tea. It soothes, calms, and relaxes: exactly what a really great cup of tea should do! When Happy Husband drinks this tea,  his whole body relaxes. I can't tell you how much that means to me.

The Midori Spring Ceremonial (GOLD) Matcha Green Tea  is a domestic blend of Japanese teas - the majority from Aichi and Kagoshima. The rest of the leaves come from Kyoto, Mie, Shiga and Shizuoka.

This tea adheres to strict Organic standards, GMO-FREE, and is certified Kosher. 

This green matcha tea is very versatile and can be used in many recipes.  I love to put it into both cookie and cake batter. Adds a truly delightful flavour!

You connect with Midori Spring on their website and Facebook page.

You may purchase Midori Spring Ceremonial (GOLD) Matcha Green Tea on amazon.com for the low price of just $24.97!

DISCLOSURE:
I received a jar of Midori Spring Ceremonial (GOLD) Matcha Green Tea for the purpose of this review. I received no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed herein are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the item.

Enjoying Tea Review and Giveaway Ends 4/18/15

Over the past few years, Happy husband and I have begun drinking hot tea more than ever before. Mike doesn't like coffee and I tend to drink too much of it.  Tea seemed a nice balance for both of us.

Did you know, I didn't have a tea pot? Nope. Just a tea kettle and a handful of miscellaneous tea bags that I had.acquired.

Cruising the web not long ago, I came across a tea company that piqued my interest: Enjoying Tea.  They have the most amazingly varied teas and tea-related items.  I know I spent two hours there looking (and dreaming) about the gorgeous tea sets, tea bags, tea cups, and more.

I contacted the company and they very generously offered to let me review one of their tea sets and a variety of their delicious teas! BLISS!

So many to choose from! It was a truly difficult choice.  I looked for a couple of days, but I always came back to this beautiful Blue with Gold Dragon Phoenix Cast Iron Tea Set.  I love cast iron. From skillets to pans to baking sheets, I love the heaviness and the durability.

This high quality cast iron tea set is the perfect companion for enjoying tea. The traditional dragon and phoenix design symbolizes strength, power, and good fortune in Asian culture. This tea set is made from sturdy iron and has enamel coating on the interior to prevent rusting. Cast ironware heats evenly and retains heat well and is praised worldwide for their beauty, strength, and superb quality. Please note that this cast iron teapot should not be used directly on stove tops to heat water.

During the mid 19th century as infused tea drinking became more popular in Japan, Tetsubin or iron cast teapot evolved from being a kitchen item to being a status symbol used to serve tea. Many nobles cherish their teapots as treasures and are kept in the family for generations.

This set includes the following:

1 teapot (approximate capacity: 650 ml or 22.1 fl oz)
2 teacups (approximate dimension: 3 1/8" dia, 2 1/4" ht)
1 removable stainless tea filter
1 trivet (approximate dimension: 6 1/4" dia)

The removable, reusable stainless tea filter is a great addition (and unexpected).  It makes the brewing of the tea so much easier!

Below, you'll see the trivet. Look at the details of the dragon -- superb!

Next, of course, I had to choose the tea and THAT really was a challenge!  Now, I am a big fan of 

Darjeeling Black Tea but I wanted to try something new. Happy Husband and I both like Green tea, so I decided to focus my attentions there.

I finally decided, since Spring is here, to try the fruit flavoured green tea sampler!

This is the perfect tea sampler for people who want to try our fine quality fruit flavored green tea at an affordable price. This Tea Sampler includes 6 samples of our Fruit Flavored Green Tea. You will get between 0.9 oz and 1.2 oz per sample, depending on the leaf size of the tea. Each tea each will come in its own square tin canister, which will all be housed in a presentable, decorative box. This Sampler Set is perfect for gift giving.

Tea varieties include:

Mango Green Tea

Strawberry Green Tea

Lemon Green Tea

Apple Green Tea

Lichee Jasmine Green Tea

Cherry Rose Kyoto Sencha

These teas are scrumptious... delicious... enticing... it takes drinking tea to a higher level of enjoyment. 

The kind folks at Enjoying Tea have generously offered one of my readers to opportunity to win a Smart Tea Maker 

and a Variety Tea Sampler OR 4 ounces of tea of the winner's choice!





When you order from Enjoying Tea, you may also qualify for these great offers: 
*FREE SHIPPING with purchases over $60
*FREE WATER BOTTLE with loose tea purchase over $80
*FREE TEA with purchase of any tea set or teapot

You can connect with Enjoying Tea on their website and social media pages:
Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Youtube, and @enjoyingtea on Twitter.

For your chance to win the Smart Tea Maker (ARV: $19.98) and Tea (ARV: $17.98) just follow the instructions below!

Open to USA, 18+, No PO Boxes. All entries are verified.

DISCLOSURE:
I received a Tea Set and Tea Sampler for the purpose of this review. I received no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed herein are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the items.

 

Entry-Form

#LeafFusion Tea Infuser Review and Giveaway, 5 Winners, Ends 3/20/15

Mike and I have been drinking a lot more tea lately. Both of us for health and stress-relief reasons. However, we don't have a lot of tea-associated items. I never knew that specialty tools even existed really. I know now that an infuser is a must-have item for tea drinkers!

When given the opportunity to test and review a tea infuser, I was very eager!

I received the amazing little tea infuser from LeafFusion.  It's adorable! It's a nifty lime green colour, is shaped like a tea leaf, and made from silicone!  The infuser is made of stainless steel and has tiny holes to keep the majority of the leaves inside and allow for maximum flow of water. The bottom of the infuser is flat so it can sit upright in the silicone drip tray.

That drip tray is a wonderful addition. Keeps your counters / desk clean from drips and stains!

The LeafFusion Tea Infuser comes with a 100% Money Back Guarantee and a Lifetime Warranty!

Before brewing:

Adding the tea leaves:

Steeping:

The perfect cup of tea

The leaves you see in the mug? My fault. I was holding the infuser over the cup when adding the leaves. Did I check to see if I spilled any into the mug? No. :(

Easy clean up! Rinse and dry!

It's so easy to use. It steeps a lovely cup of tea. I really think it will help me drink more tea because I love this simple, yet incredibly useful tool.

The lovely folks at LeafFusion have generously offered FIVE (5) of my readers the chance to own a tea infuser for their very own! Isn't that fabulous?

Just follow the instructions below for your chance to enter to win!

Open to USA, 18+, No PO Boxes, Please.

DISCLOSURE:
I received a LeafFusion Tea Infuser for the purpose of this review. I received no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed herein are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the item.

Entry-Form

White Matcha from Red Leaf Tea

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Tea has become a bigger part of my life in the past few months. I've really learned to enjoy it.  It's calming, soothing, and there is endless variety.

Recently, I was invited to try White Matcha Tea from the Red Leaf Tea Company.   Having never tried it before, I wasn't sure what to expect.

I received a small (30 g) bag of White Matcha and a sample-size of Caramel Matcha Special Blend.

WOW. This has to be one of the lightest, smoothest teas I've had so far.  It's not exactly 'delicate' but it's very mild. 

I thought the tea itself would be white in colour, but it isn't.  It's a muddy-brown and so is the brewed tea. Very unexpected!

I followed the Traditional Brewing and Steeping Instruction: 

As a hot tea, White Matcha's penetrating smell and amazing flavor really come to life. 
To enjoy White Matcha as a hot tea: 
Bring your White Matcha powder to room temperature [18°C (64°F) to 23°C (73°F)], and sift through a strainer. Scoop 1 ½ to 2 rounded teaspoons of sifted White Matcha into a tea bowl or cup Add ¼ to 1/3 cup of hot, simmering water (this may be more or less diluted based on your preference). Briskly whisk your White Matcha. As the Matcha begins to dissolve, move the whisk briskly back and forth as fast as you can in the middle of the bowl or cup. The whisk should be vertical and barely touching the bottom of the bowl or cup. Once your Matcha has developed a soft, light foam, slowly lift the whisk from the center of the bowl or cup.

RESULTS:

As you can see, the brewed tea is a deep brown. It has a lovely bouquet -- bright, soothing, with a slight perfume. The aroma gives one the sense of a freshly turned garden. 

The flavour is slightly sweet, malty, with no bitter after-tones.  This is a tea I will drink often.

 White Tea has some wonderful qualities to help maintain good health. In essence, White Matcha contains those same qualities with a purer taste. The health benefits of White Matcha include:

*High antioxidant count to kill free radicals in the blood stream
*Reduces the risk of certain types of cancer
*Decreases fine lines and wrinkles in the skin
*Helps maintain a beautiful complexion
*Has only one percent (1%) caffeine content of coffee

White Matcha Tea from Red Leaf Tea Company is high quality. It's priced competitively (Approx. $19.95 for 30g) and offers a fabulous alternative to Green and other teas. 

You may connect with Red Leaf Tea on Their Social Media Pages:
Facebook and @RedLeafTea on Twitter.

You may purchase White Matcha on Amazon.com

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Mighty Leaf Tea ENDS TONIGHT!!! #MightyLeaf

Our #MightyLeaf Tea Giveaway ends tonight! Don't miss out on this fabulous giveaway!

To enter, just click HERE!  Good luck everyone!

Mighty Leaf Tea Taste of the Tropics Review and #Giveaway Ends 4/21/14

DISCLOSURE: I received a Taste of the Tropics Gift Sampler and TeaTop Brew Mug.  I received no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed here in are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the item(s).

You all know by now that I'm rather addicted to coffee.  You may NOT know that I am drinking more and more tea -- both hot and cold.

After never being much of a tea drinker, I've discovered over the past year just how much I really do like it.  Of course, being Southern, I do tend to prefer my tea cold and sweet!

I was given the chance recently to try some new tea from one of my favourite places: The Mighty Leaf Tea Company!  I've been blessed to try their teas before, so I delighted when they offered me their Taste of the Tropics Gift Sampler.

This sampler pack contains three amazing tea blends:

 Green Tea Tropical: Green Tea Tropical green tea boasts smooth green tea leaves that harmoniously blend with sweet tropical fruits to create a sensation as uplifting as a breeze off the isle of Papenoo. A healthy and refreshing blend, Green Tea Tropical makes an ideal introduction to green tea.  We sourced the finest loose leaf green tea to infuse our silken tea pouch, our twist on the gourmet teabag, with an extraordinary flavor experience.

How do I choose a favourite of the three? Good question! I think, maybe, the Green Tea Tropical is my go-to for a thirst-quencher! It's just slightly citrus-y tart. Notes of pineapple and lemon.  I love it.  It brews up to a nice pale green colour.  I brewed two tea bags to 4 cups of water because I was making cold tea.  10 minutes brew time and it was ready to go!  I added 3/4 cup of sugar (I like mine sweet.)

Vanilla Bean: Vanilla Bean black tea, a deep blend of black tea leaves with Madagascar vanilla, conjures up images of inhaling the heady aroma of wild vanilla as you hike the tropics near Mt. Maromakotro. A full-bodied and fruity cup, Vanilla Bean flavored black tea, a blend of Ceylon and China black teas, makes a deeply satisfying impression. 

The Vanilla Bean I saved for bedtime. I drank it hot with just a bit of honey to sweeten.  Lovely, soothing, mild flavour.  The vanilla shines in this tea. And the fragrance... tropical flowers! Perfect for a bedtime treat.  

This evening tea is fast becoming my tea ritual: A little Stevie Nicks music, lights turned low, wrapped up in my afghan and a cuppa. This is bliss. For someone with chronic insomnia, it's a blessing. 

African Nectar: Savor the finest rooibos when you journey to the fertile tropics with our Organic African Nectar rooibos tea and savor the fruits of the "Alluring Continent." Made with naturally caffeine free Organic African rooibos tea, also known as red tea, this Mighty Leaf signature rooibos blend teems with tropical fruit and blossoms. It promotes calm and relaxation.

The Organic African Nectar is a kick! More robust than the Green or Vanilla, it hints of Hibiscus and dark honey. I prefer this tea brewed cold.  I also added a 1/4 cup of cream to the cold tea for a really amazing "tea shake".  Isn't that a gorgeous, deep red?  So inviting!

These special teas are a true gift for the tea aficionado.  For those of us just beginning our tea journey -- it's a great start.  You will not be disappointed.

I also received a TeaTop Brew Mug.  This is the perfect addition to a tea-lovers collection!
This double-walled, stainless steel mug is a traveling teapot! Guaranteed not to over-brew your tea, but still keeps your tea nice and hot! 

I must admit... I think my Mother-in-Law might abscond with it when she sees it! :)

You can now save 15% off of your tea when you sign up for the Mighty Leaf Newsletter and you can earn rewards when you refer-a-friend! (If you sign up today, please tell them I sent you!)

Mighty Leaf Tea is offering one of my readers the chance to win a tea sampler and travel mug for their very own!

Choose from the package I received, the Taste of the Tropics Gift Sampler, which contains Vanilla Bean, Green tree Tropical, and Organic African Nectar, or the World Flavors Gift Sampler which contains Ginger Twist, White Orchard, and Organic Detox infusion.

Be sure to enter Mighty Leaf's SPA WEEK SWEEPSTAKES!  Hurry! Sweepstakes ends on April 30th!

You can connect with Mighty Leaf Tea on their Social Media Pages:
Facebook, @mightyleaf on Twitter, YouTube, #mightyleaf on Pinterest, Instagram, and Google+

Please follow all entry instructions carefully.

***Follow all instructions carefully. Open to USA only (Excluding Alaska and Hawaii), 18+.  No PO Boxes, please. All entries are verified. Giveaway Ends on April 21, 2014.***

Entry-Form